The Up2stream Plate AMP 2.1 offers several optional expansion boards that can be used to enhance its functionality and performance. These expansion boards include the Up2stream button board, and Up2stream IR extension board. Each of these expansion boards provides unique features and capabilities that can be used to customize and improve the performance of your Up2stream Plate AMP 2.1 device. You can find all the boards in Accessories. USB Sound Card for PC I also own the new S50 Pro + (released at end of Jan) - again this is just a streamer but now has OLED screen. You wish to use external DAC. The Node2i will do 24/96 from it's coax output. Maybe even 192 I think. The Arylic is limited to 16/44 Equipped with various connectivity options, including a 3.5mm Aux input, optical input, and USB input for PC connection, the Up2Stream Plate AMP 2.1 ensures seamless integration with your audio devices. Fine-tune your sound experience using the intuitive volume, tone, and bass rotary knobs for precise adjustments.

I think the Node2i with a good external DAC will win hands down on both app experience and overall sound vs the Arylic, but at much higher cost. The S10 unit itself is manufactured by in China by Rakoit as part of a range of products used by several suppliers, including Arylic, in their products. It measures just 120 x 110 x 40mm, not least because it employs an outboard power supply that’s almost the same size. The aluminium chassis may not win any design accolades, but it’s robustly built.The Arylic WiFi streaming technology ensures you enjoy music without audio compression and audio interference of your lossless file. Sawing works well on conventional woodworking table saws with fine “triple chip teeth” and work guided against the table saw fence or miter gauge. No melting problem. Curved shapes can be done manually with a scroll saw with the proper blade and relatively slow blade speed. There’s also a stereo phono input, stereo pre-out (should you want to use the amp with a pair of active speakers, or connect to a larger amplifier), USB and an Ethernet port, should you opt to hardwire to your network. Speakers are connected via plug-in Phoenix terminal-strip connectors.

With its compact form factor and frugal connectivity, it obviously isn’t going to appeal to traditional audiophiles. However, like Liam Neeson in Taken, it has a specific set of skills. There is also another App called Go-Control, which allows fine tuning of various settings and adjustment of parameters not available in the 4Stream App. It would be nice if the additional configuration functions in the Go-Control App could be integrated into an 'Advanced Settings' function in the main 4Stream App. The Up2stream Plate AMP 2.1 is designed to support a broad range of lossless audio formats, including FLAC, MP3, AAC, AAC+, ALAC, APE, and WAV. Furthermore, the board can decoding up to 192kHz/24bits, and providing high-quality audio output with a resolution of 44.1kHz/16bits CD quality. The Up2stream Pro is capable of supporting a wide range of lossless audio formats, such as FLAC, MP3, AAC, AAC+, ALAC, APE, and WAV. Additionally, it can decode up to 192kHz/24bits and deliver CD quality audio output of 44.1kHz/16bits.

Bluetooth has little to recommend it in this model and there's no gapless, DSD or MQA. Gapless has long been a bane of many a manufacturer so that's no biggie. Worth pointing out at this juncture that the gapless proviso is only for your own files, streaming services are unaffected and Spotify (which I use) plays throb without a hitch, gapless and all. DSD and MQA aren't to be expected at this price, so no biggie there, the latter in particular is no loss.